By Violet LeVoit
The Merry Frinks
Brief Synopsis
A loving wife and mother tries to keep her eccentric family in line.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Alfred E. Green
Director
Aline Macmahon
Mom [Hattie] Frink
Guy Kibbee
Uncle Newt Frink
Hugh Herbert
Joe Frink
Allen Jenkins
Emmett Frink
Helen Lowell
Grandma [Amelia] Frink
Film Details
Also Known As
The Happy Family
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
May
26,
1934
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
First National Pictures, Inc.; The Vitaphone Corp.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Synopsis
Three generations of the Frink family, Grandma Amelia, Joe and Hattie and their children, Emmett, a left-wing lawyer; Lucille, a singing student who cannot carry a tune; and Norman, a juvenile delinquent with aspirations to boxing, all live together in a small New York apartment. Hattie does her best to keep the family going without help from anyone else in the family, least of all her husband Joe, an alcoholic newspaperman who cannot keep a job. Oliver Gilfin, who is from a nice middle class family, is one of Lucille's suitors, but despite Hattie's preference for him, Lucille is only interested in Benny Lopez, a crooked promoter who promises her an audition at a radio station. Hattie's sacrifices and hard work go unnoticed by her constantly complaining family who do not even remember her on Mother's Day. Life is difficult enough and then long-lost Uncle Newt Frink, Grandma's brother, arrives from New Zealand, planning to stay with the family. Although he claims to be waiting for his money to arrive from New Zealand, in the meantime Newt contributes nothing to the family expenses. Pressed for money, Hattie secretly takes a job in the afternoons. Loyal Hattie is the only family member present when Uncle Newt cooks a special dinner in honor of his birthday and dies after overeating. On Christmas Eve, everyone in the family has plans, despite Hattie's wishes that the family stay home together. Fed up, Hattie bursts into tears, finally expressing her feelings that she is unappreciated. The family is in an uproar when a lawyer arrives with Newt's will. Newt, who really was wealthy, has left everything to Hattie on the condition that she no longer associate with her family. Hattie immediately leaves, but although for the first time in her life she is able to pamper herself, she is lonely without her family. Her maid Camille calls a gigolo, Ramon Alvarez, to accompany her dancing. Ramon has a gold-digging girl friend who is leaving for Palm Beach, so he convinces Hattie that they should go as well. Back at the Frinks', everything is falling apart, and finally realizing just how important Hattie was to them, Grandma determines to get Hattie to return. Oliver puts his foot down as well, insisting that Lucille marry him and leave with him for Europe. Surprised by this new masterful Oliver, Lucille agrees. The entire family then goes after Hattie and find her at the airport, boarding the plane with Ramon. Delighted to see them, Hattie leaves Ramon and returns with her newly appreciative family.
Director
Alfred E. Green
Director
Cast
Aline Macmahon
Mom [Hattie] Frink
Guy Kibbee
Uncle Newt Frink
Hugh Herbert
Joe Frink
Allen Jenkins
Emmett Frink
Helen Lowell
Grandma [Amelia] Frink
Joan Wheeler
Lucille Frink
Frankie Darro
Norman Frink
Ivan Lebedeff
Ramon [Alvarez]
Harold Huber
Benny Lopez
Louise Beavers
Camille
Maidel Turner
Mrs. Shinliver
Harry Beresford
Mr. Brumby
Harry C. Bradley
Dr. Shinliver
James Bush
Oliver Gilfin
Charles Coleman
Butler
Joan Sheldon
Frieda Shinliver
Ethel Wales
Settlement worker
Ed Keane
Truant officer
Ivan Linow
First Russian
Michael Visaroff
Second Russian
Roger Gray
Expressman
Will Armstrong
Expressman
James Burtis
Expressman
James Burke
Expressman
Joseph Crehan
Mr. Baxter
George Offerman Jr.
First thug
Jack Mchugh
Second thug
Scotty Mattraw
Fat man
Dick Elliott
First reporter
Ned Norton
Second reporter
Russ Powell
Proprietor
Wade Boteler
Detective
Guy Usher
Sergeant
Cliff Saum
Italian taxi driver
Crew
Film Details
Also Known As
The Happy Family
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
May
26,
1934
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
First National Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
First National Pictures, Inc.; The Vitaphone Corp.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Articles
The Merry Frinks -
Most screwball comedies place their battle of the sexes in a glamorous rather than domestic setting, but this super-combatative farce is an exception. Hattie Frink (Aline MacMahon) is the devoted and long-suffering mother at the center of the Frink clan, and she runs herself ragged catering to the whims of her screechy daughter (Joan Wheeler), combatative sons (Allen Jenkins and Frankie Darro), elderly mother (Helen Lowell) and vociferous socialist husband (Hugh Herbert). But when she comes into money from the sudden death of visitor Uncle Newt (MacMahon's perennial co-star Guy Kibbee), her family is scared into good behavior by his will's stipulation that she'll only hit the jackpot if she dumps all of her freeloading kin. One of the noisiest early sound films, with a soundtrack that's not just all-talking but all clanking, rattling, slamming, yelling and shrieking, this Depression-era fantasy of appreciation for overworked women still resonates today. Also starring Louise Beavers in another maid role, released just months before her career-defining turn in Imitation Of Life (1934).
By Violet LeVoit
By Violet LeVoit
The Merry Frinks -
Most screwball comedies place their battle of the sexes in a glamorous rather than domestic setting, but this super-combatative farce is an exception. Hattie Frink (Aline MacMahon) is the devoted and long-suffering mother at the center of the Frink clan, and she runs herself ragged catering to the whims of her screechy daughter (Joan Wheeler), combatative sons (Allen Jenkins and Frankie Darro), elderly mother (Helen Lowell) and vociferous socialist husband (Hugh Herbert). But when she comes into money from the sudden death of visitor Uncle Newt (MacMahon's perennial co-star Guy Kibbee), her family is scared into good behavior by his will's stipulation that she'll only hit the jackpot if she dumps all of her freeloading kin. One of the noisiest early sound films, with a soundtrack that's not just all-talking but all clanking, rattling, slamming, yelling and shrieking, this Depression-era fantasy of appreciation for overworked women still resonates today. Also starring Louise Beavers in another maid role, released just months before her career-defining turn in Imitation Of Life (1934).
By Violet LeVoit
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The pre-release title, which was also the British release title, was The Happy Family.
